The whole purpose of going to Hawaaii was to visit our best man Jonas and his lovely girlfriend Zoe (we have given them the name Zonas for short). They live in the beautiful town of Kailua where the Obama's stay when they visit HI. We are blessed to have been able to stay in their beautiful place right by the beach for seven days! It was refreshing for Sol and I both to be reunited with such a good college friend and finally get to meet Zoe. Here is a not so quick look at our seven days in Oahu:
Day 1: Jonas surprised us by picking us up at the airport and took us back to his place in Kailua. Here is a shot of the view across the street from where they live. In the distance you can see the Mokulua Islands off Lanikai beach. Can you say paradise?
Solomon and Jonas were so excited they were like giddy little school boys. We all sat on the beach and caught up on each others lives until the morning hours!
Me and Zoe - one day Zoe, you and I will do Yoga, I promise. I have been working on my flexibility so I won't hate it as much. Maybe we'll even do Yoga on this beach if I could be so lucky!
Day 2: Lazy day. I woke up early (noon our time, 7am local time) and trekked all the way across the street to this wonderland while the husband slept.
Later I returned with the husband in tow and sat on the bench below reveling in the beauty of God's creation. I then sunned myself until the husband was good and crispy. :)
Later in the evening we attempted snorkeling at Lanikai beach. Sol was a natural and I was a mess. The waves were too big and the water was cloudy so we opted to hang up our fins and wait for the real snorkeling at Hanauma Bay.
Day 3: Jonas and Zoe took us on an adventure around the island up scenic Hwy 83 to the north shore. We stopped at this roadside stand and I got the stereotypical tourist aqua shell bracelet. I'm so original!
The boys each got one of these coconuts to drink. (how cute their swimsuits match!)
Then the not so feminine lady took out her machete and cracked it open like a pro and cut out the coconut for them to eat. I wouldn't want to make her angry while she had a machete...
Further along the drive we stopped for the famous north shore garlic parmesan shrimp. I did not partake but everyone else loved them. Then we were off to Waimea Bay. The beach park there is beautiful and can have some intense waves but luckily while we were there the waves were calm and the weather was perfect.
We stayed from late afternoon til evening. While the guys went cliff jumping off the rocks behind us Zoe, Erika (our new HI friend), and I all laid on the beach.
Later we got to witness this amazing sunset over Wiamea Bay.
Day 4: We lost a day somewhere?! hahaha!
Day 5: Sol & I conquer Pearl Harbor solo! Zoe and Jonas both had to work so we headed to Pearl Harbor to soak in some history and pay our respects to those who died for our freedom.
First we took an audio tour of the USS Bowfin Submarine. Sol took a turn trying things out in the engine room.
After watching a movie about the attack on Pearl Harbor we headed by boat out to the Arizona Memorial.
Later than evening we headed to the Kailua farmers market and picked up some local fresh produce like avocados and sea asparagus! We ate some amazing food and brought home some of the best chocolate I have ever tasted. It was locally produced and the cocoa was grown on the north shore.
Here is a picture of our lovely hosts at the farmers market and one of us with our chosen dinners.
Day 6: Hanauma Bay Snorkeling Survival 101 - the class we never took.
So our wonderful host Jonas was kind enough to sign our names in the Hanauma Bay log on a previous visit so that we did not have to watch the 15 minute video prior to hitting the beach when we came. The video consists of information about the reef, what not to touch, where not to go, and how to be safe. Well, apparently we needed to see the video. :) When we arrived at Hanauma there were red flags up to let us know about the strong rip current on the outer areas of the reef. We noted the sign and headed into the reef with our gear. As it turns out, I am not a natural snorkeler, in fact I really stink at it. I feel like I can't get enough air which then leads to a panic attack, which does not help my ability to enjoy the amazing fish and sea life swimming around me. Due to these reasons I lasted about 10, maybe 15 minutes in the water before I removed my fins and headed back to the beach to sun myself. Once I was on the beach the lifeguards made additional announcements over the speakers about the dangerous conditions near the edge of the reef. Sol and Jonas were face down enjoying every minute on snorkeling and never heard the announcement. After about 30 minutes they spotted a sea turtle and began swimming with it. Sol and Jonas swam with it for awhile and then Jonas went off after another school of fish. If we'd watched the video Sol would have known not to touch the sea turtle. But he didn't see the video and instead he pet it, rode on it, held it's fin, and followed it beyond the outer wall of the reef directly into the strong rip current. Once outside the reef there are only a few entrances back inside and the water is very deep and the reef is extremely sharp. Sol was being thrown into the reef by the strong waves and lost a fin. Long story short he had to be rescued by a lifeguard while I was face down in beach bliss until he returned from the ocean a bloody cut up mess. Anyways, here are a few pictures from our trip along the southeastern area of Oahu and Hanauma Bay. I am thankful he lives to tell the story about riding a sea turtle.
Day 7: Goodbye
On our final day in Oahu Jonas took us to breakfast at the famous Mac Daddy Pancakes in Honolulu which was featured on the Man vs. Food TV show. The pancakes are pizza size and 3 levels high! We couldn't even eat 1/4 of them!
After breakfast Jonas took us onto his army base to show us the black hawks he gets to fly for a living. He gave us an inside look at how everything works and let us climb around on them too.
This made saying goodbye even harder and made it all too real that he's headed to Afghanistan in January. We are so thankful for his willingness to serve to our country, for the opportunity to visit him in HI and for he and Zoe's kindness and friendship! We love you guys!
